DCCC Announces Record-Breaking Fundraising Year for 2013

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced today that it raised $75.8 million in 2013 and is ending the year with $18 million more in the bank than at this point in the 2012 cycle – an unprecedented amount. The DCCC raised $5.6 million in December to close out the year. While the National Republican Congressional Committee has yet to release their fundraising numbers for the year, the DCCC was $13.7 million ahead of the NRCC and built an $8 million cash-on-hand advantage in the first 11 months of the year.

“Our record-breaking fundraising success comes down to one essential element: the insatiable hunger to replace this broken Republican Congress with leaders who have the right priorities and who will focus on solving problems,” said DCCC Chairman Steve Israel. “Every time House Republicans try to cut seniors’ benefits or shut down the government over the Affordable Care Act or restrict women’s health access or stack the deck in favor of special interests instead of the middle class, our supporters step up. With this Republican Congress, there are plenty of opportunities.”

Of the DCCC’s cash advantage, The Rothenberg Political Report recently wrote: “The DCCC could use a $10 million to $20 million cash advantage in at least a couple different ways. The party could spend $1 million or so, unmatched, in a dozen or so districts with inexpensive media markets, such as Ohio’s 6th District or Nebraska’s 2nd District. Or the party could significantly outspend the GOP in a few very competitive and expensive districts, such as New York’s 19th District, which overlaps with the New York City media market. When total spending between the parties is separated by thousands of dollars, it probably isn’t the deciding factor in a competitive race. But if one side is spending millions more, that’s another story.”

The DCCC fundraising success comes from:

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi remains a significant fundraising force among grassroots and major donors and raised $35 million for the committee in 2013. [Politico, 1/9/14]

Both Leader Pelosi and DCCC Chairman Steve Israel are keeping up a record pace of fundraising across the country, with Chairman Israel surpassing former Chairman Rahm Emanuel’s fundraising record for the committee. [Roll Call, 1/13/14]

88 percent of Democrats in the House have paid dues to the DCCC already for the cycle.

The DCCC has received more than 1 million donations from online donors, for $19.4 million – double the previous DCCC off-year record and more than any other party committee in an off-year.